Dos Equis Alcohol Content: Beer Facts and Alcohol Percentages
Table of Contents
You’ve probably heard the beer advertising campaign that the Dos Equis man is “the most interesting man in the world.” But what’s in the beer bottle, and what is Dos Equis Alcohol content? Find all the answers to your Dos Equis alcohol percentage questions here.
Beer is a favorite alcoholic beverage of Americans. It’s a refreshing beverage and excellent for socializing, drinking at a BBQ, or home. The alcohol content of beers varies widely, from light weak beers with a low alcohol percentage to strong dark beers with higher alcohol content.
Higher alcohol content beers will get you drunker faster than lower alcohol content beers, which isn’t always what we want. Unfortunately, most places that sell beer often don’t give you the alcohol percentage, which is where we come in!
Answered: Dos Equis Alcohol Content
Do you want to know how much alcohol is in Dos Equis beer? By now, you know that there are five different Dos Equis drinks for you to enjoy. The alcohol content for Dos Equis beer varies, with each beer having a different ABVs (Alcohol by Volume). ABV is an abbreviation for alcohol by volume. Below is a beer alcohol content list for all five drinks.
Dos Equis Special Lager Alcohol Content
Dos Equis Special Lager beer has an alcohol content of 4.2% alcohol by volume (ABV). It is the perfect beer for hot days or outdoor activities. In Spanish, this beer is called Dos Equis Lager Especial.
Dos Equis Amber Alcohol Content
Dos Equis Amber beer has an alcohol content of 4.7% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Dos Equis Amber is a classic Vienna-style lager with earthy tones and an amber color. In Mexico, it is called Dos Equis Ambar Especial.
Dos Equis Mexican Pale Ale Alcohol Content
Dos Equis Mexican Pale Ale beer has an alcohol content of 5.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). This beer is a pale ale with a citrusy Mexican twist.
Dos Equis Lager Lime & Salt Alcohol Content
Dos Equis Lager Lime & Salt beer has an alcohol content of 4.2% alcohol by volume (ABV). It is a refreshing beer that is perfect for any occasion. It has a smooth taste and is served in cans, making it easy to take with you wherever you go.
Dos Equis Ranch Water Alcohol Content
Dos Equis Ranch Water has an alcohol content of 4.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).
It is a hard seltzer inspired by the flavor profile created when tequila, sparkling mineral water, and lime are blended. It is a low-calorie alcoholic drink that fits the bill for hot summer days or inside or outside.
Which Dos Equis Beer has the Highest Alcohol Content?
Dos Equis’s highest alcohol percentage beer is Dos Equis Mexican Pale Ale. It has an alcohol content of 5.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Which Dos Equis Beer has the Lowest Alcohol Content?
The Dos Equis beer with the lowest alcohol content is Dos Equis Special Lager with 4.2% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Which Best Selling Mexican Beer Has The Highest Alcohol Content?
Are you curious about what the strongest brand of Mexican beer is? While most Mexican beers are between 4% to 5.2% alcohol by volume (ABV), the Dos Equis Mexican Pale Ale is the strongest ‘big brand’ beer with an alcohol content of 5.5%! It’s refreshing, with a citrusy taste and a hint of spice.
That’s just one of the five different types of Dos Equis beers and hard seltzer that you can try.
What Are the Different Types of Dos Equis?
There are five different types of Dos Equis that you can try. While all five are deliciously refreshing, you’ll have to be the judge of which one’s best. Here are the 5 Dos Equis drinks:
Dos Equis Special Lager, known as Dos Equis Lager Especial in Mexico
Dos Equis Special Lager is their best-known beer, served in their iconic green bottles. Called Lager Especial in Spanish, it’s a golden pilsner-style beer that blends malts with the taste of spices and earth tones. Special Lager is a refreshing beer made from pure spring water and the choicest hops. It has a balanced composition and a smooth, clean finish. It’s the perfect beer for any occasion!
Dos Equis Amber, known as Dos Equis Ambar Especial in Mexico
Coming up in the number 2 position is Dos Equis Amber, a classic Vienna-style lager that’s called Dos Equis Ambar Especial in Mexico. It’s a full-body beer that goes down smooth with hints of caramel and rum. Plus, as the name says, it has a beautiful amber color.
Dos Equis Mexican Pale Ale
Next up is Dos Equis Mexican Pale Ale, a pale ale with a Mexican twist. It’s made with citrusy hops and has a hint of spice. It’s an outstanding balance between bitterness and hoppy citrus.
While it’s not an IPA, this pale ale almost reminds me of one. The hoppy citrus and spicy flavors in Dos Equis Mexican Pale Ale evoke the palate of an IPA that has a built-in Mexican twist.
Dos Equis Lager Lime & Salt
If you know about Dos Equis, you’ll see that drinkers often enjoy it with lime and salt. No lime & salt? No problem. They created Dos Equis Lager Lime & Salt so you can enjoy the same great taste wherever you are. It’s crisp, light, smooth, and served in cans.
Dos Equis Ranch Water
Want to try their newest drink? Dos Equis Ranch Water is a hard seltzer with a country soul. It’s also their latest release. Ranch Water is a hard seltzer with a country soul that’s great for hot summer days. This drink matches the flavor profile created when tequila, sparkling mineral water, and lime are combined.
Dos Equis Nutrition Facts: How Many Calories, Carbs, Fat, and IBU In Bottles and Cans
Counting calories or just curious? Dos Equis has something for everyone. Here are the calorie counts of all five of their beers and hard seltzers:
- Dos Equis Special Lager: 131 calories, 0 grams of fat, 11 grams of carbohydrates, and an IBU (International Bitterness Units) of 10 per 12-ounce bottle
- Dos Equis Amber: 146 calories, 14 grams of carbs, 0 grams of fat, and an IBU of 22 per 12-ounce bottle
- Dos Equis Mexican Pale Ale: 175 calories, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fat, and an IBU of 30 per 12-ounce bottle
- Dos Equis Lager Lime & Salt: 135 calories, 12 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fat, and an IBU of 10 per 12-ounce can
- Dos Equis Ranch Water: 90 calories, 0 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fat, and an IBU of 0 per 12-ounce can
For the purposes of consistency, it’s standard to base nutrition facts on a 12-ounce serving size in the beer industry.
Remember that a 2,000 calorie daily intake is considered standard for most adults. This number of calories is adequate to meet most people’s energy needs. The exact number of calories you need to maintain your weight can be higher or lower depending on your age, size, and physical exercise.
The average person needs to keep their calorie intake below 2,000 calories a day to lose weight.
Is Dos Equis a Light Beer?
Are you a fan of light beers? While Dos Equis is a low-calorie beer, it’s not a light beer. That’s because while the calorie count of a light beer is between 80 and 100 calories, Dos Equis has more calories. Dos Equis Special Lager has 131 calories, Dos Equis Amber has 146 calories, and Dos Equis Pale Ale has 175 calories.
If you’re looking for a low-calorie alcoholic drink, Dos Equis Ranch Water fits the bill! At only 90 calories, it still has a 4.5% alcohol content. It’s perfect for a hot day outside or inside.
Food Pairings for Dos Equis
Dos Equis Special Lager pairs well with various foods, including burgers, tacos, dips, or an appetizer plate of sausages and cheeses.
If you’re drinking Dos Equis Amber, it makes an excellent pairing with burritos, guacamole and chips, arepas of all types, tacos and fajitas, steak dishes, and mole.
Dos Equis History
Dos Equis (two X) beer was the invention of a German immigrant, Wilhem Haase, who founded the Moctezuma Brewery back in 1890. After creating Dos Equis Lager, Hasse gave the world what’s now known as Dos Equis Amber in 1897.
Today, Dos Equis beer is still brewed where it always has been in Mexico by Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, S.A. de C.V. The brewery uses the same process and ingredients from when Wilhem Haase first brewed it in the 1890s. The only difference is that we now have five different types of Dos Equis to choose from instead of two! Today, Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma brews Dos Equis’ Special Lager, Dos Equis Amber, Dos Equis Lager Lime & Salt, Dos Equis Mexican Pale Ale, and Dos Equis Ranch Water Hard Seltzer.
During the twentieth century, Dos Equis grew rapidly and is now one of the most popular beers in the United States. It’s not surprising since their lagers are a crowd-pleaser at parties, cookouts, tailgates, and more. It’s been a trending beer among American consumers for a while now, so why not try one yourself?
Just how popular is Dos Equis in the United States? Very popular, it turns out. 20.5% of Americans aged 18 to 29 years old stated that they drank Dos Equis in the last three months. That’s all Americans, but only 62% of Americans drink. So fully 1/3 of American drinkers chose a Dos Equis in the past three months. Impressive!
Dos Equis meaning in English
Are you looking for the answer to “Dos Equis meaning in English”? Look no further! Dos Equis means ‘Two X’s’ in English. Why is a beer brand called ‘Two X’s’?
Wilhelm Hasse created what’s now known as Dos Equis in 1890, and the 20th century was just around the corner. He was a man looking toward the future, and what better way to project modernity than naming your lagers after the new century? That’s why he called his original 1890 brew ‘Siglo XX,’ which means “The Twentieth Century.”
Later, “Siglo” was changed to ‘Dos.’ Why Dos? It comes from the Roman numeral XX, which means’ 20′. Dos Equis – ‘Two X’s” was born. The rest is history.
The most interesting man in the world
You probably have heard or seen some of the Most Interesting Man in the World (MMIMITW) ads during sporting events such as the Super Bowl. These catchy ads were fun to watch and highly effective. As the tag line goes, he is the perfect party guest who is always invited and never overstays his welcome.
Studies done by the Millward Brown firm rated the Dos Equis commercials. They found that viewers ranked commercials featuring the MIMITW in the top 5% best ads ever!
Besides being great marketing, these ads helped introduce Dos Equis lagers to millions of American consumers. They helped the company grow into one of the biggest beer brewers in the world. Every year that Americans have heard of the Most Interesting Man in the World’s adventures, sales of Dos Equis beer have increased.
For example, according to Beer Marketer’s Insights, Dos Equis increased American shipments by 15.4 percent in U.S. shipments in 2012. This growth was much better than the 2.7 percent average growth for the top 10 imports and no growth in beer consumption among other legacy brands. The Most Interesting Man in the World helped Dos Equis grow 5.7 times faster than their competition in math terms. Now that’s interesting.
How is Dos Equis Made?
You might be surprised to learn that Dos Equis is still producing beer the same way that they were back in 1897. Dos Equis beers are crafted with care using water, hops, malted barley, yeast, water, ascorbic acid, and starch or corn syrup. Here is the precise brewing process that they use:
- First, the barley is soaked in pure spring water to encourage germination. This step is called ‘malting.’
- Next, the barley is dried to prevent it from fully sprouting. This process ensures that the enzymes needed in the ‘brewing’ step remain present.
- Then, the pure spring water and the choicest hops are added to the sugars from the malted barley and brought to a boil. Why add hops? The mash is hopped to add a unique flavor profile. At the same time, the brewer controls the temperature to maintain the desired sweetness. This step transforms the starch made from the malted barley into fermentable sugars. This step is called the ‘brewing’ step.
- Now, brewer’s yeast is added, which transforms the sugars in the mixture into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This step is the ‘fermentation’ step.
- During the fermentation step, the brew becomes carbonated, thanks to the release of carbon dioxide. Without carbonation, beer is flat, and who likes a flat beer?
- Next, the beer is kept at a low temperature for a lengthy period to condition the beer, which gives you the lager taste you’ve come to enjoy. The brewer’s yeast settles in the bottom of the lagering tank. This step is called the ‘lagering’ step.
- The final step before bottling is filtration. The remaining yeast is filtered out, leaving pure Dos Equis beer!
- The pure beer is bottled, canned, or draft kegged and shipped worldwide for millions to enjoy!
What Makes Mexican Beer Different?
Alcohol has a long and exciting history in Mexico. The early inhabitants of Mexico made fermented drinks from the agave cactus and corn. Perhaps the best known of these drinks is called Pulque, made from the sap of the agave plant.
Once Pulque has been fermented, it has a somewhat sour taste, milky coloration, and alcohol content between 5% and 7%. If you’re interested in trying it, you can still try Pulque when you’re in Mexico! We think you’ll prefer to sit back and enjoy a Dos Equis, though.
Later, Europeans introduced new beer styles from their homelands as they arrived. In the late 1800s, Mexicans began brewing beer commercially due to German immigrants who became brewery owners. An interesting historical fact is that Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico had his own brewing company during the Second Mexican Empire. He made Vienna-style dark beers that were similar to Dos Equis Amber!
Why Do Mexican Beers Taste So Good? (Cervezas de Mexico)
Mexican beers, or cervezas de Mexico in Spanish, are unique and taste different from typical beers because of their ingredients. Generally, the ingredients used are corn and barley grain. Besides being memorable beers, they’re well made. Beer enthusiasts will appreciate that they have near-zero fruit esters and a pleasant aroma. For those who aren’t beer enthusiasts, that means you have a real man’s beer instead of a fruity one.
Thanks to their high quality and great taste, it’s no surprise that Mexican beer has become popular worldwide and regularly wins awards at beer festivals. Today, Mexico’s beer brewers export to more than 150 countries and have avoided the sales decline that brewers in other countries have experienced. Not bad for an industry that didn’t take off until the late 19th century.
What are the Mexican Beer Brands?
Interestingly, two companies dominate the Mexican beer industry and produce 90% of Mexico’s beer! These two breweries are Cerveceria Modelo (Grupo Modelo) and Cerveceria Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma (FEMSA).
Grupo Modelo’s best known beers are Negra Modelo, Modelo Especial, and Corona Extra. Enough about them, though. Let’s talk about Dos Equis. You might remember Cerveceria Cuauhtémoc-Moctezuma as the brewing company that produces your Dos Equis beer!
Usually, when you have big beer distributors dominating the market, you have lots of low-quality, bland brewed beer, like Anheuser-Busch in the United States. Do you crave the taste of legacy beer brands like Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Milwaukee Best Ice, Natural Ice, Natural Light, or malt liquor? These American beers get the job done, but it’s nothing to write home about. Would the Most Interesting Man in the World drink those beers if he could drink Dos Equis instead? We think not.
On the other hand, Mexico has managed to continue its long history of crafting high-quality beer at reasonable prices. At the same time, there’s also a wide variety of beers to choose from in Mexico, including craft beers. It’s the best of both worlds.
Michelada – The Mexican Style of Beer Drinking
Have you heard of a “Michelada” beer cocktail? It’s a distinctly Mexican cocktail drink that dates back to the 1960s when Michel Ésper began on his path to beer fame. He would ask for his beer with a straw, lime, salt, and ice when drinking at his local sports club. Sounds interesting? It’s a beer lemonade!
It proved to be such a hit that everyone started asking the bartender for “Michel’s lemonade,” which was shortened to “Michelada” as time went by. Years later, others added other sauces to the original recipe to add a bit more tang, most notably more ice plus chile powder on the rim of the glass. Micheladas are enjoyed by millions today thanks to Michel Ésper’s pioneering cocktail.
You can make your very own “Michelada” at home using a 12-ounce bottle of Dos Equis Amber beer and the following ingredients:
- Salt
- 1 ½ ounces of lime juice
- A few squirts of hot sauce
- 2 ounces of tomato juice
- A pinch of black pepper
- A pinch of salt
- A few ice cubes, start by trying 5.
- A straw, but only if you want one!
Add the salt around the rim of your favorite glass. Add the ice to your glass and pour in the lime juice, tomato juice, salt, hot sauce, and pepper. Lastly, add your Dos Equis Amber beer. Stir and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Dos Equis Alcohol Content Questions
People often have specific questions about Dos Equis, alcohol content, and Mexican beer. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions people ask about these topics.
Which Dos Equis beer has the least amount of carbs?
Dos Equis Ranch Water has no carbs at all! So if you’re watching your carbohydrates, try it out. It’s their newest product and is carb guilt-free.
Is Dos Equis gluten-free?
No, Dos Equis beer is not gluten-free because the company makes the beer using malted barley. If you’re sensitive to gluten, you should choose a gluten-free beer instead.
Dos Equis Pronunciation?
How do you pronounce Dos Equis? Here is a quick Dos Equis pronunciation guide!
In the United States, you can pronounce Dos Equis this way: ‘dos e-kis.’
In Latin America, you would pronounce Dos Equis as ‘dohs eh-kees.’
Either way is correct, so pick the one you like and go with it!
Is Dos Equis Azul beer discontinued?
Dos Equis Azul (Alcohol Content 5.7% ABV) beer is not currently produced by Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma. The company made this beer by mixing their Special Lager with blue agave and golden wheat.
How many types of Mexican beers are there?
Mexican beers cover a wide range of beer types, including lager, pilsner, dark beer, amber ale, brown ale, wheat beer, India pale ale, standard stout, Imperial stout, cider, Belgian style ale, and light beer. There’s something for every type of drinker!
In 2018, the Mexican beer industry produced 3,169,272,112 gallons of beer. That’s over 3 billion gallons of beer! Industrial brewers, like Dos Equis, accounted for 99.8 percent of that beer production, with only 0.2% being craft beer sales. Craft-beer lovers need to step up their game and create new brews for the American craft beer market.
Why do most Mexican beers taste European?
Most Mexican beers are of the Vienna style lager type. Why? It’s because the modern-day beer industry took off in the late 19th century thanks to German immigrants turned brewery owners. They brewed beers popular in Germany that they were familiar with and enjoyed. Even Emperor Maximilian of Mexico entered the beer business, brewing German-style beers.
What are the best and worst beers for weight loss?
Do you want to lose weight while still enjoying the occasional beer? Not a problem! Aim for the lighter beers. The lowest calorie beers are low alcohol beers. In contrast, beers with high alcohol content are high in calories. There’s a direct relationship between calories and alcohol content! Beers with more alcohol also have more calories.
If you want to drink a ‘regular’ beer, look no further than Dos Equis Special Lager. It has only 131 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrates, and a 4.2% ABV alcohol content. For more nutrition information and access to their responsibility campaigns, check out Dos Equis’ website.
Modelo Negra alcohol percentage
Grupo Modelo’s Modelo Negrabeer is a Mexican dark lager with an alcohol percentage of 5.4% ABV.
Modelo Especial alcohol content
Grupo Modelo’s Modelo Especial beer is a full-flavored pilsner with an alcohol content of 4.4% ABV. Ingredients include barley malt, filtered water, corn, hops, and yeast.
Tecate alcohol content
Tecate Original has a 4.5% alcohol percentage, while Tecate Light has a 3.9% alcohol percentage. Both beers are popular in Mexico and the United States.
What beer has the most alcohol in it?
The strongest beer in the world is called “Snake Venom,” with an alcohol content of 67.5% ABV! Snake Venom is a beer by Brewmeister, a Scottish brewery formed in 2012.
Which American beer has the highest alcohol content?
The American beer with the highest alcohol content is Sam Adams Utopias beer at 28% ABV!
Utopia beer is blended using high-quality batches aged up to 28 years in flavor-enhancing barrels. Besides being the strongest American beer on the market, it tastes great, too, with a Beer Advocate score of 99.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know the Dos Equis alcohol content plus much more, you too can be an interesting person when discussing Mexican beer! Dos Equis is a favorite choice of millions of Americans since it’s the perfect beer for socializing, watching TV, after yard work, or while you’re grilling. Try one (or two) tonight and enjoy Dos Equis responsibly.